[Intervention of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycle by Chinese medical herbs for Shen tonifying, blood nourishing and activating: a randomized clinical trial].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Chinese medical herbs for Shen tonifying, blood nourishing and activating (CMHSTBNA) on the cycle of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) of assisted reproductive technique (ART). METHODS: A large sample randomized control trial was performed. Infertility women patients, younger than 42 years (infertility due to tubal factor and/or male factor) were randomly assigned to the CMHSTBNA intervention group (abbreviated as the treated group) and the control group, 184 cases in each group. All underwent COH. Those in the treated group received assist therapy of CMHSTBNA from the menstrual period day 2 -3 of COH to the day of oocytes retrieved. The serum hormone level [including estrogen (E2), progesterone(P), luteal hormone (LH) on the day of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) administration], the medication days and dosage of gonadotropin (Gn), the number of oocytes retrieved, the fertilization rate, and the good-quality embryo rate were observed and compared with the control group. RESULTS: The endometrial thickness on the day of oocytes retrieved was 10.85 +/- 1.63 mm in the treated group, larger than that in the control group (10.50 +/- 1.49 mm) (P <0.05). The good-quality embryo rate and the frozen rate were 48. 9% and 39. 7% respectively in the treated group, superior to those of the control group (45. 4% and 35. 8% respectively), showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). On the day of hCG administration, favorable tendency was shown in the serum levels of estradial (E2), progesterone (P), luteinizing hormone (LH), the medication days and dosage of Gn, the number of oocytes retrieved, the fertilization rate, and the cleavage rate, showing no statistical difference when compared with the control group (P >0.05). CONCLUSION: The combined application of CMHSTBNA and gonado-trophic hormones in COH cycle could elevate the embryo quality, improve the endometrial state, thus laying foundation for successful in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm embryo transfer.

Acupuncture for chronic sciatica: protocol for a multicenter randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic Sciatica is a disabling condition causing considerable medical, social and financial implications. Currently, there is no recognised long-term effective treatment to alleviate sciatica. Acupuncture has been widely used for treating chronic pains with persistent analgesic effects. We aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chronic sciatica with follow-up in 52 weeks. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is a multicenter randomised sham-controlled trial. A total of 216 patients with chronic sciatica will be enrolled and randomly assigned to the acupuncture or sham acupuncture group. There will be 10 treatment sessions applied in 4 weeks with frequency decreased over time. Patients will complete follow-ups during 52 weeks. The primary outcomes are changes in leg pain intensity and disability from baseline to week 4. Secondary outcomes include back pain intensity, frequency and bothersomeness, quality of life, and global perceived effect. Adverse events will be recorded in detail. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval of this trial was granted from the ethics committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and all study centres (No. 2020BZYLL0803). Written informed consent will be obtained from enrolled patients. Trial results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2100044585 (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, http://www.chictr.org.cn, registered on 24 March 2021); preresults.

[Protective effect of acupuncture on heart in mice with hyperlipemia and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the inhibiting effect of acupuncture on blood lipid, myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis in mice with hyperlipemia, and explore its possible action mechanism. METHODS: Ten inbred mice (C57) were applied. Forty ApoE(-/-) mice who removed gene of apolipoprotein E were randomly divided into a control group, a non-acupoint group, an acupoint group and a medication group. The points 0. 5 cm and 1 cm next to the end of mice tail were respectively punctured in the non-acupoint group; "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Fenglong" (ST 40) were punctured in the acupoint group; intragastric administration of simvastatin was applied in the medication group. After 8 weeks of treatment, the changes of total cholesterol (TC) and ratio of heart to body mass in each group were measured; changes of cardiac muscle fiber and ventricular wall thickness were observed; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the level of angiotensin II (Ang I ) in plasma, and western blotting method was used to test protein content of angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and endothelin-1 type A receptor (ETAR) in the heart. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of intervention, compared with the control group, rising range of blood lipid was obviously decreased (P<0.01) in the acupoint group and medication group, ratio of P<0.01), myocardial heart to body mass was decreased (P<0.05), thickness of ventricular wall was reduced (P fibrosis was relieved, levels of Ang II and ET-1 in plasma were decreased (P<0. 05), content of NO was increased (P<0. 05), and protein content of AT1R and ETAR was decreased in the heart (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: 40) could inhibit the rising of blood lipid in ApoE(-/-) mice, lower the levels of Ang II and ET-1 in peripheral blood, increase the content of NO and inhibit the expression of AT1R and ETAR in heart tissue, which could relieve myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis to play a protective role on heart.

[Study on vesicant characteristics of Uylabris and seeds of Brassica Alb].

UNLABELLED: OBJECTIVE To study on vesicant characteristics of Uylabris and Seeds of Brassica Alb in crude herb moxibustion. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-five healthy subjects were randomly divided into 5 groups. The vesicant rate, vesicant time and vesicant size and pain degree of different medicines or doses were observed. Results There were significant differences in the vesicant rate among the different doses groups of the same medicine (P<0.05), with no significant difference in the vesicant time (P>0.05); and there were significant differences in vesicant time among the different medicine groups (P<0.05). In the Uylabris group, the vesicant time was longer; the vesicant size in the medicine group of 0. 05 g each point was larger than that of the medicine group of 0.01 g each point (P<0.05); there were significant differences among the groups in the pain rate (P<0.05), and the pain rate was the highest in the 0.05 g each point of Seeds of Brassica Alb. CONCLUSION: Uylabris and Seeds of Brassica Alb have different vesicular characteristics, so in clinical application, application dose and time may be used for controlling the vesicant extent.